Decongestants are medicines used to
relieve nasal congestion (stuffy nose).
Purpose
A congested or stuffy nose is a common symptom of colds and allergies. This
congestion results when membranes lining the nose become swollen.
Decongestants relieve the swelling by narrowing the blood vessels that
supply blood to the nose. This reduces the blood supply to the swollen
membranes, causing the membranes to shrink.
These medicines do not cure colds or reverse the effects of histamines -
chemicals released as part of the allergic reaction. They will not relieve
all of the symptoms associated with colds and allergies, only the
stuffiness.
When considering whether to use a decongestant for cold symptoms, keep in
mind that most colds go away with or without treatment and that taking
medicine is not the only way to relieve a stuffy nose. Drinking hot tea or
broth or eating chicken soup may help.
Description
Decongestants are sold in many forms, including tablets, capsules, caplets,
gel caps, liqui-caps, liquids, nasal sprays, and nose drops. These drugs are
sometimes combined with other medicines in cold and allergy products
designed to relieve several symptoms. Some decongestant products require a
physician's prescription but there are also many non-prescription
(over-the-counter) products.
Injection
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